For the just children of good men were offering sacrifice secretly, and they unanimously ordered a law of justice: that the just should receive both good and evil alike, singing now the praises of the fathers.

“Men. The patriarchs. Their children, the Israelites, offered in private the sacrifice of the paschal lamb; and were regulating what they were to do in their journey, when that last and most dreadful plague was coming upon their enemies. (Challoner) — Alike. The feast was a bond of union with God and their neighbour, (Calmet) and the Hebrews resolved to be always true to one another both in prosperity and adversity. (Haydock) — Fathers. Abraham, &c. Songs usually accompanied feasts, and the promises made to the patriarchs filled the Hebrews with confidence that they would shortly take possession of Chanaan. (Calmet)”

“It may also be rendered : "the fathers singing now praises beforehand." It behoved them to praise God for His mercies and judgments, which were to continue to be celebrated by their remotest posterity They remembered on that occasion their fathers, to whom the promises were made, and they celebrated their praise. Grotius remarks that the Christians in celebrating the praises of the apostles and martyrs, imitated the Jews, who were wont to celebrate the memory of their fathers.”

“For they sacrificed secretly. The people of Israel in Egypt celebrated the Pasch at the command of the Lord, etc., up to but in the hiding of the heart they ever sacrifice to the Lord, whence: A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit. And elsewhere: In me, O God, are thy vows, etc. He recalls that God struck the firstborn of Egypt, where the Egyptians no longer feigned as before, but openly compelled the people of God to depart, saying: We shall all die.”